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41st Congress, ) HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES. ( Report 

'^i ISession. | ( ^o. 36. 



MOUNT VEKNON RELICS. 



March '^, 1870. — Oidtueil to be priutetl aiul recoiuinitted to the Committee on the 

Judiciary. 



Mr. Kerr, from the Committee on tbe Judiciary, made the following 

K E P R T . 

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the resolution of the 
House adopted April 5, 1809, directinff inquiry concerning the proper 
disposition to he made of the '■^ Mount Vernon relics,''^ report: 

lu order to obtain the most reliable information on the subject so re- 
ferred to the committee, an inquiry was addressed to the Adjutant Gen- 
eral of the Army for all evidence to be found in the records of the War 
Department concerning the "Mount Vernon relics," and in answer 
thereto the committee are supplied with the following correspondence : 

Adjutant Gkneral's Ofjice, 

JVashhujton, January 29, 1870. 
SiH: In reply to your iufjuiry of the 25th iustaut, relative to certain relics formerly 
in the possession of Mrs. Mary Custis Lee, and now supjiosed to be in the possession of 
the government, I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of all the corresijoudence 
bearing upon the matter which the rccords'of this office afford. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

E. D. TOWNSEND, 

Adjutant General. 
Hon. M. C. Kkrr, 

Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. 



Department of the Interior, 

Fehruarn 8, 1862. 
Sir : Agreeably to the request of your note of the 30th ultimo, I return herewith a 
letter of General McDowell addressed to you on the 7th ultiaio, in relation to the 
"Mount Vernon relics ' at Arlington House, which was received here with your com- 
munication of the 13th ultimo. 

Very respectful! v, your obedient servant, 

CALEB B. SMITH, Seereiarn. 
Brigadier General S. Williams, 

AaatKinn. Adjutant General, 

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Washington, D. C. 



Headquarters Division, 
Arlington, Virginia, January 7, 1862. 
General : Shortly after coming into the command of the then department Northeast 
Virginia, with my headquarters at this place, I received a letter from Mrs. K. E. Lee, 
(laughter of the former projn-ietor of this house, and from an expression in it I received 
tbe impression that all of the Mount Vernon relics which had been deposited here had 
been removed at the time of her leaving, and I reuiained under this belief till a few 
days since. 



2 MOUNT VERNON RELICS. -^ '^ 

Ou my comiug here I found the house occupied for public purposes, and for reasons 
not necessary to go into at this time I refrained from occupying it personally, but 
encamped near it^ and during the several times I have been here I have continued in 
camp, until a very recent period, Avhen an injury compelled me to seek quarters in- 
doors. 

A short time ago an old negro woman belonging to the estate came to tell me she 
had been intrusted by her mistress with the key of one of the cellar rooms, and that 
some time back this room had been broken into and was now open, and as it contained 
china which Avas exposed, the boxes in which it had been packed having been broken 
open, she wished to be relieved of the responsibility of having the key. I had the door 
closed, and also that of the garret, which I found had been broken open. 

Last Aveek the Hon. Caleb Lyons, being here on a visit and learning of the 
these facts, expressed a wish to see this china, as having frequently been a guest of 
Mr. Custis he was well acquainted with everything in his possession which had be- 
longed to General Washington. 

His inspection resulted in the discovery that the cellar room contaiued, lirst, the re- 
mains of a set of china which had been presented by the Society of Cincinnati to Gen- 
ral Wasliington, which Avill be found described and drawn page 240, "Mount Vernon 
and its Associations, by Benson J. Lossing." 

Second. Tavo pieces of a set of china presented 1)y the officers of the Freneli army to 
Mrs. Washington, which Avill be found (lescril)ed an<l draAvn ou page 241, same work. 

Third. Two A-ases presented to General Washington by Mr. Vaughn, Avhich Avill be 
foimd described and draAvn images 174, 175, same Avork. 

General Washington's punch boAvl, Avith the picture of a ship in, it, described and 
draAvn page 303 same work, was here but a short time before, (as I am informed by those 
who saw it in the cellar,) but has been stolen. There is no question as to the genuine- 
ness of these relics. Seeing that I had been mistaken in the belief that there Avere no 
relics of Washington at Arlington, I called ou the old servants and haA^e ascertained 
that beside those before mentioned there are here the following articles : 

First. General Washington's tea table, described page 303 of Lossing's Avork. 

Second. General Washington's tent, described page 126, same work. 

Third. Two gilt ornaments for candelabras, described page 301, same work. 

There are also some pieces of furniture bi'ought here from Mount Vernon, but whether 
tliey belong to General Washington or the Custis family is not clear. 

I have during the times I have been here endeavored to take the greatest care of this 
house and its furniture, and of the grounds, &c., but from what has been done and 
what Avili be done in the changes to take ]dace in the different persons who may oc- 
cupy this house Avith their staff; servants, followers, &c., and the crowd of curiosity- 
seelcers constantly coming here, this place is not a safe one for the preservation of auy- 
tliing that is knoAvn to haA'-e an historical interest small or great. 

There is also in the garret a quantity of papers of the Custis family, which are sup- 
X>osed to contain many of those of Washington, Lafajette, «&c. These are not safe from 
pilfering hands. None of these can now be sent to the family to Avhom they belong. 

They are interesting to a large class both North and South, and I feel I should not 
be fully acquitted of discharging my duty if I do not bring the subject to the attention 
of superior authority, that some steps may be taken in the matter. 

It has been suggested that they should be placed in the Patent Office or the Smith- 
sonian Institute, and Major L. Williams, Sixth Cavalry, whose family is in some way 
connected with that of the proprietors, suggests to me that his aunt in GeorgetoAvn Avill 
fladly take charge of them. I am interested only in their preservation, and shall 
gladly folloAV any instructions concerning them the major general commanding may be 
pleased to order or indicate. 

I inclose a list of the china referred to, and have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
your most obedient servant, 

iRviN Mcdowell, 

Brigadier Getia-al Commanding Division. 
Brigadier General S. Wio.iams, 

Assistant Adjutant General, 

Hcndqnarters Armi/ Potomac, WashiiKjt on, D. C. 



CINC:IXNATI CHINA. 



13 dining plates and soup plates. 
1 punch bowl (broken.) 
7 imperfect pieces. 
3 salad bowls. 
3 soup tureens. 
5 sauce bowls. 



MOUNT VERNOX RELICS. 

3 fish drainers. 
2 pieces of glass. 
10 custard cup covers. 
2 little platters. 

.■MARTHA \VASinN<rrON CHINA. 

1 broken plate. 

1 sugar bowl. 

OTHER CHINA. ' 

2 vases, (porcelain.) 



HKATlQVAliTKRS ArMY OV THK POIO.MAC, 

Jnnuarij 1:3, 1862. 
Sir : I have the honor to present to your consideration the inclosed letter from Brig- 
adier General Irvin McDowell, concerning some relies of General Washington's prop- 
erty, recently discovered by him in the Arlington House, a list of which accompanies 
the letter. 

It is evident that these articles, of a national aiul historical value, should have 
greater care aJnd safer keeping than will be possible at Arlington certainly for a long 
time to come, and I would respectfully beg leave to inquire whether the custodian of 
the Washington relics, in the national Patent Office, is not the most fitting person to 
whose care these articles, of like nature and value, can be comuiitted. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

S. WILLIAMS, 
Assistant Adjulant (icncral. 
Hon. C. B. Smith, 

iSccrctary of the Tntcrior. 



Heapqitartkrs AiniY ok thk Potomac, 

Jtoiiiary 13, 18G2. 
General: Your communication in reference to the Washington relics discovered in 
Arlington House has been referred to Hon. C. B. Smith, Secretary of the Interior, who 
has kindly consented that they may be placed for safe keeping in the national Patent 
Office in this city, with other articles preserved there formerly belonging to General 
Washington. You will, therefore, take the necessary steps to have them sent there. 

It has been suggested that in prosecuting further search for such relics on the Ar- 
lington estate, Hon. Caleb Lyon, having been on terms of intimate friendship with, 
the family of Mr. Custis, and being familiar with the locality, may prove a valuable 
assistant. 

I am, geuei'al, veiy respectfuUv, vour obedie^it servant, 

S. WILLIAMS, 
Assisfri-tt Adjutant (k'ntral. 
Brigadier General Ikvin McDowell, 

Com mand'vKj Dirision. 



[Extract from Letter.s Received Book, Army of the Potoui.ic.l 

.Iaxuary 16, 1862. 
In relation to the Washington relics recently discovered at the Arlington House ; 
proposes to have them removed to the Patent Office. 
Papers not on tile with records Army of the Potomac. 
January 17, 1862. 
Department of the Interior, 

C. B. Smith, Secretary. 



Headqiarters Army- of the Potomac, 

January 17, 1862. 

Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 16th instant, 
kindly consenting that the Washington relics, discovered , at Arlington House, may be 



4 MOUNT VERNON RELICS. 

placed for safe-keepiug iu the cases iu the public saloon of the Patent Office. This cer- 
tainly seems the most appropriate resting place for these mementoes of General Wash- 
ington, which, as you justly remark, "the whale country has an intei'est in preserving." 
Their transfer has been ordered, and Hon. Caleb Lyon has consented to superintend 
their transit to the custody provided by your patriotic liberality. 
I am, sir, with great respect, your ol)edient servant, 

S. \VILLIAj\IS, 



Hon. C. B. Smith, 

Secretary of the Interior. 

Official copy : 



Adjutant General's Ofkice, January 29, 1870. 



Assistant Adjutant General. 



E. D. TOWNSEND, 

Adjutant General. 



All this correspondence was then handed to Hon. J. D. Cox, Secretary 
of tlie Interior, with request for such further information touching the 
facts therein stated as could be aftbrded by his department. Mr. Secre- 
tary Cox referred the same to Hon. S. S. Fisher, Commissioner of Patents, 
with the following ofticial indorsement : 

Febri'ary 3, 1870. 
At the verbal request of Hon. M. C. Kerr, of the House of Representatives, these 
papers are referred to the Commissioner of Patents, with request that he return the 
same with a report as to the articles named within, which are now in the Patent Office, 
and also Avliat, if any, have been removed, and what action in regard to the same may 
have been taken by public authorities or individuals. 

J. D. COX, Secretary. 

In answer thereto the Commissioner of Patents replied as follows : 

United States Patent Office, 

February 4, 1870. 

Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior. 

The articles named within are all in the Patent Office at the present time, with others 
of like character. No action, so far as can be ascertained, has been taken with refer- 
ence to them, other than that which appears iu the within papers. 

I should be glad if these and other Washington relics could l)e removed to the 
Smithsonian Institute, or some other place of safe-keeping, as the room is wanted foi' 
the models. 

Very respectfully, your obedient ser\'ant, 

SAM'L S. FISHER, Commimoner. 

In returning to the committee the correspondence with these indorse- 
ments, Mr. Secretary Cox sent the following letter : 

Department of the Interior, 

Washington, D. €., February 9, 1870. 

Sir : I return herewith the papers res]iecting the Washington relics, which you left 

with me on the 3d instant, and have the honor to refer you to the indorsements thereon. 

The statement of the Commissioner of Patents communicates all tliat is known on 

the subject in this department, and expresses his wishes with regard lo the custody of 

the articles. 

I am, very respectfullv, your obedient servant, 

J. D. COX, Secretary. 
Hon. M. C. Kerr, 

House of Bepresentaiives, Washinyion, D. C. 

This correspondence, taken together, appears to contain all attain 
able ofticial or record information concerning the relics, and it dis- 
closes very clearly the genuineness of the relics, the manner iu which 
they came into the custody of the government, from whose possession 
they were taken, and whose property they were when so i)roperly taken 
charge of by General McDowell. 



MOUNT VERNON RELICS. 6 

On the advice of her I'rieuds, diiiiug the hite adiniiiistratiou, under 
date of February 10, 1809, Mrs. Lee, from Lexin^^ton, Virsiiiia, ad- 
dressed the following- request to the President : 

Mr. Pkesidknt : Encouraged by your kind attention to a former application, and 
Ijrompted by my friend, Captain May, I now venture to request that you will direct all 
the articles taken from Arlington and deposited in the Patent Offico to be restored. They 
are relics from Mount Vernon, beiiueathed to me by my father, and consequently of 
great value and interest to his family. 
Very respectfully, 

MARY CUSTIS LEE. 
His Excellency Andrkw Jciuxson, 

rresidenl. of tlie U»ited States. 

This letter ^Yas directed under cover to Captain May, and by him 
placed in the hands of Mr. Secretary Browning, who said in his testi- 
mony before a former committee of this house, that he delivered it to 
the President in full cabinet meeting, and, upon being read, every mem- 
ber of the cabinet agreed that the request of Mrs. Lee should be com- 
plied with and it was so ordered. Before the transfer was effected an 
inquiry was ordered by this House in the last Congress, and all further 
proceedings ceased. 

The investigation by that committee elicited no facts inconsistent 
with what is above indicated. 

These articles were the property of Mrs. Lee for her natural life, to 
be transmitted as heirlooms to her posterity. Mrs. Lee is the daughter 
and only child of George Washington Parke Custis, who was the grand- 
son of Mrs. Martha Custis, afterward Martha Washington, wife of the 
" Father of his Country." She became possessed of Arlington House and 
estate under her father's will. That estate and these relics belonged to 
Mrs. Lee and not to her hu.sband, General K. E. Lee. The federal gov- 
ernment nevei' attemi)ted by any legal proceedings to divest her title. 
The title appears, therefore, to be still in her alone. In the judgment of 
your committee the possessio)! ought to be transferred to her. 



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